Author's Note: I'm SO SORRY! I've been so busy with work to the point in order to get days off I had to use vacation time. . I've also been busy drawing and what not, but that's not the point. I'm actually wanting to thank those who have been dedicated, waiting patiently and to those who are new. If it wasn't for you guys, my readers...I wouldn't be doing this. Now! Enough sap! I hope you guys enjoy! I'll be posting more soon since I have like 5 days off! w

Dedication: To all of my readers. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Rating: T

Summary: Like any popular boy, Ikuto has many girls that chase him on a daily basis besides his sister. So, there's only one way, in Ikuto's mind, to stop them. Have a fake girlfriend of course!

Chapter 33: No Sad Endings

Hotaru was frozen in shock. She wasn't sure of what was going on, but the bright egg in front of her…She knew she needed to get it.

"The Embryo!"

Hotaru turns to Amu and Tadase, both of their eyes fixated on the glowing source of light as well. Kazuomi and his minions look around hurriedly.

"The Embryo? Where?"

"I don't see it!"

A small thought clicks inside their heads. They can't see it. Hotaru didn't have time to ponder as to why, but she knew they needed to act fast. Hotaru kneels down ready to pounce when she spots a small boy in the distance, his expression one of awe as he too was staring at the egg.

'Who is…?'

"Don't let those kids get away!"

Hotaru turns back to the egg, the Embryo beginning to move away from them. Hotaru and Amu jump towards it, arms outstretched.

"Wait!"

"No!"

As they seem to have it within their grasp, the light intensifies from the egg, causing Kazuomi and his guards to shield their eyes, Tadase's voice filling the air.

"Amu-chan! Nikaidou-san!"

Hotaru could feel a warmth begin to envelop her body.

'What's…this feeling?'

But it was too much to handle as Amu and Hotaru are thrown back by force from the Embryo, the egg disappearing altogether. Tadase is quick to act on catching Amu, Hotaru hitting the ground a bit roughly, their transformations having faded.

"Amu-chan! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine…but the Embryo..!"

Hotaru struggles to stand up, her body aching slightly when her ears pick up a voice.

"Tsk! Let's go! Bring that useless brat with you!"

Hotaru turns to them, fear in her eyes as she hurriedly stands up, running towards them.

"No! Ikuto!"

She's about to reach them when she stumbles, her head rising only in time to see their black limo speed off. Defeat seems to fill her as she pounds a fist on the ground.

"No…they got away…"

Tears begin to fill her eyes.

"They're controlling him…Ikuto…At this rate, his life will…"

"Hotaru."

Hotaru turns around, Amu and Tadase both offering her their hands. Both seem determined.

"It's going to be alright."

"C'mon, we'll take you home. Can you stand?"

Hotaru looks at their hands before grabbing hold of both of them, each using a little force to pull her to her feet. Rubbing at her watering eyes, she nods her head. It occurred to her that now was not the time to be weak, and what an example she was setting. She was the oldest here.

"Um, Tadase…"

Hotaru and Tadase turn to Amu as she suddenly bows, Hotaru's expression a bit bewildered.

"I'm sorry!"

Hotaru's eyes soften. She understood now.

"Even though I said I wasn't hiding anything, I knew where Ikuto was!"

Tadase shakes his head and offers her a gentle smile.

"It's okay. Don't worry. It occurs to me now how worried you must have been when I vanished suddenly. It's alright now…so…"

Tadase offers a hand.

"Can we shake hands on it? Friends?"

Amu's face lights up with joy as she takes Tadase's hand, both shaking it happily. Amu then turns to Hotaru, Hotaru tilting her head in curiosity.

"I'm sorry to you too Hotaru…You believed in Ikuto and you knew he wouldn't do things bad on purpose…and yet I pushed both of you away."

Hotaru shakes her head, patting Amu's head playfully.

"It's alright. It was understandable to have suspicions and you don't know Ikuto as well as I do."

"As you do?"

Hotaru notices Tadase and Amu looking at her inquisitively, said girl's face turning red before trying to cover it with her hands.

"What are you guys thinking?"

Both kids begin to laugh a bit, glad that the mood was lightening up a bit. Tadase looks around after awhile, his thoughts going back to nostalgic times.

"This amusement park…We all came to play here. My family and Ikuto's."

Hotaru gasps, never having heard of this before.

"From the time he started living with us, he always…"

"Wait, what?"

Amu was obviously shocked by this bit of news.

"Ikuto lived in your house?"

"Yes, but only for a short while. Utau-chan did as well."

Hotaru giggles at Amu's shocked face. She hadn't known either, but the pieces were beginning to fit very well from what she knew.

"This time…I'll tell you about Ikuto and I…"

Kazuomi was not pleased after the events that had just taken place. The fact of failure was not one he liked very well. Ikuto was unconscious in the back seat, his body seeming lifeless.

"Damn…those brats got in our way. Just a little longer and the Embryo would have been ours."

Kazuomi turns his eyes to look outside at the passing scenery.

"Up until now, I thought the Embryo would only appear when there was a large amount of X eggs, but now…"

A smirk appears on his face as he recalls Amu and Tadase's move in purifying the eggs.

"I've got it now! Now we'll definitely get the Embryo to Gozen!"

His laughter fills the air as they continue driving away.

Hotaru listens patiently as Tadase tells his story, of how Ikuto and Utau came to live in their home. From Aruto's, Ikuto's father, disappearance to when his father gave him the Humpty key. Hotaru had never imagined that their families had been friends before the kids had been born, but she knew it wasn't impossible.

Hotaru was now sitting in class, though her thoughts weren't on that day's lessons.

From Ikuto's father leaving to the events that followed, Hotaru couldn't blame Tadase for thinking the way he had. Poor Ikuto…

'…he went through all that pain…alone…'

Hotaru suddenly stands, walking forward to the teacher's desk and excusing herself. She barely makes it to the abandoned bathroom when the tears begin to fall down her face.

"Ikuto….IKUTO!"

It hurt.

Hotaru was on her balcony, her eyes looking out toward the setting sun, her hair billowing behind her through a gentle breeze.

'I wonder…where Ikuto is…'

A knock at her door causes her to turn around, a small smile appearing on her face as her brother peeks his head in.

"Hi Onii-chan."

Her brother walks over to her, one hand in his pocket, still clad in the suit he usually wore to teach. He probably had just come home.

"What's on your mind Hotaru?"

Hotaru's eyebrows furrow. Her brother always seemed to know when something was on her mind. She explains to him what Tadase had told her and her thoughts on the situation. It's as she finishes do her eyes water up again, her hand desperately rubbing at them to stop.

"That's enough."

"Huh?"

Hotaru turns to her brother only to have him flick her forehead. Her hands come up to touch the sore spot, her anger rising a bit.

"What was that for?"

"To get you to stop crying."

Hotaru's yells stop as she realizes he was right.

"I don't like when your in this mood. The Hotaru I remember used to always believe didn't write stores with sad ending."

Hotaru gasps inwardly, her eyes widening to a time when she was young.

(Flashback)

"I'm home!"

A small Hotaru walks in, clad in an elementary school uniform, her parents walking down the stairs. It had been awhile since they had been home, though no one turned to greet her. She walks over to them.

"Mommy! Daddy! Look what I-"

"Not now Hotaru. Mommy and Daddy have to go. We're in a hurry."

Her mom places a quick kiss to her forehead as her dad pats her head. She watches as they both disappear behind the door.

"Welcome home, Hotaru!"

Hotaru turns at the familiar voice, her eyes lighting up at the sight of her brother. She rushes over, throwing her arms around his waist.

"I'm home, Onii-tan!"

"Welcome home, Hotaru. Have Mom and Dad…"

Hotaru meekly nods her head, doing her best to not be upset.

"Are you sad, Hotaru?"

Hotaru shakes her head, lifting her head to show a smile to her older brother.

"No! I have Onii-tan!"

Yuu chuckles at his cute sister's smile before walking over and sitting in the living room.

"So, what'd you do in school today?"

"I realized…I want to be a writer!"

Yuu turns to his sister in bewilderment, not having expected that career choice. He smiles softly.

"Really? What kind of stories would you right?"

Hotaru stands up, raising her arms to the ceiling, her voice full of light.

"Stories…with no sad endings!"

(End Flashback)

Hotaru had forgotten about that, the memory having returned full-force to her.

'That's right. I did say that…'

"Your life is your own story Hotaru."

He turns to her, placing a comforting hand on her head.

"So…don't give it a sad ending…okay?"

Hotaru happily nods her head, her motivation returning full force.

"I won't."

'I promise…'

Author's Note: Got that part out of the way! Now to more action! At least that's what the next chapter should consist of. Guys, I can't believe we're reaching the ending soon. It seems so crazy! I only have a few chapters left. I don't know how many off the top of my head, but it's nuts! How is Hotaru going to save Ikuto? Will there be no sad endings? What is Hotaru's last egg? Let's find out in the next chapters, shall we? :3